Dean Melanson was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft in the fourth round, 80th overall after playing three years of major junior hockey with the St. Hyacinthe Lasers of the OMJHL. He joined the Lasers for the 1990-91 season at the age of 17 and appeared in 69 games, scoring ten goals and 27 points while providing a steadying influence on the defense. He followed that up with another 27-point season before breaking out for a 42-point effort in his final year, where he also spent 253 minutes cooling his heels in the penalty box.

Melanson played in the AHL for almost three years with the Rochester Americans before being given his one and only opportunity to play in the NHL. He was called up for five games with the Sabres in 1994-95, primarily as a fill-in for injured players.

Melanson continues to play in the AHL, currently with the Portland Pirates. He has also spent time with the Philadelphia Phantoms as well as the Chicago Wolves and Quebec Rafales of the defunct IHL. He was called up to play several games with the Washington Capitals in November 2001.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1989-90

Antigonish Bulldogs

MJrHL

1990-91

St-Hyacinthe Laser

QMJHL

69

10

17

27

110

4

0

1

1

2

1991-92

St-Hyacinthe Laser

QMJHL

42

8

19

27

158

6

1

2

3

25

1992-93

St-Hyacinthe Laser

QMJHL

57

13

29

42

255

1992-93

Rochester Americans

AHL

8

0

1

1

6

14

1

6

7

18

1993-94

Rochester Americans

AHL

80

1

21

22

138

4

0

1

1

2

1994-95

Rochester Americans

AHL

43

4

7

11

84

1994-95

Buffalo Sabres

NHL

5

0

0

0

4

-1

1995-96

Rochester Americans

AHL

70

3

13

16

204

14

3

3

6

22

1996-97

Quebec Rafales

IHL

72

3

21

24

95

7

0

2

2

12

1997-98

Rochester Americans

AHL

73

7

9

16

228

+1

4

0

2

2

0

1998-99

Rochester Americans

AHL

79

7

27

34

192

+30

17

3

2

5

32

1999-00

Philadelphia Phantoms

AHL

58

11

25

36

178

+9

4

2

3

5

10

2000-01

Philadelphia Phantoms

AHL

15

1

4

5

48

+4

2000-01

Chicago Wolves

IHL

42

1

7

8

80

-5

2000-01

Portland Pirates

AHL

13

1

4

5

14

0

2

0

0

0

10

2001-02

Washington Capitals

NHL

4

0

0

0

4

+1

2001-02

Portland Pirates

AHL

70

2

14

16

140

+14

2002-03

Portland Pirates

AHL

23

1

4

5

40

+1

2002-03

Binghamton Senators

AHL

35

4

3

7

93

-5

13

0

1

1

48

2003-04

Iserlohn Roosters

Germany

27

4

6

10

150

2004-05

Kassel Huskies

Germany

49

3

6

9

143

7

0

0

0

12

2005-06

Muskegon Fury

UHL

6

0

0

0

9

-1

12

1

4

5

18

2006-07

Muskegon Fury

UHL

6

1

1

2

12

-2

NHL Totals

9

0

0

0

8

QMJHL All-Rookie Team (1991)

Signed as a free agent by Philadelphia, July 22, 1999. Traded to Washington by Philadelphia for Matt Herr, March 13, 2001. Traded to Ottawa by Washington for Josef Boumedienne, December 16, 2002. Signed as a free agent by Iserlohn (Germany), November 21, 2003. Signed as a free agent by Milano (Italy), January 29, 2007.